Senior diplomat resigns over UK complicity in Gaza 'war crimes'
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The British diplomat calls out Israeli officials' explicit genocidal intents while highlighting the IOF's heinous crimes against Palestinians.
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A banner reading 'Keir Starmer: Will Labour Stop Arming Israel?' is hung over the side of Westminster Bridge, in front of the Palace of Westminster, in London, on June 3, 2024. (AFP)
British senior diplomat Mark Smith has resigned from the UK’s Foreign Office due to the country’s continued arms sales to “Israel” amid its ongoing genocide in Gaza, stating it has “no justification".
“FCDO complicity in War Crimes” was the title of Smith’s resignation, a report revealed Friday, renouncing his role as head of the Africa Programmes and Expertise Department and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
“It is with sadness that I resign after a long career in the diplomatic service. However, I can no longer carry out my duties in the knowledge that this Department may be complicit in War Crimes,” Smith wrote.
“Each day we witness clear and unquestionable examples of War Crimes and breaches of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza perpetrated by the State of Israel,” he added.
The former diplomat highlighted “Israel’s” evident war crimes, shedding light on Israeli officials’ open genocidal expressions and evidence of the IOF’s crimes against Palestinians including rape, torture, and looting.
“There is no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel yet somehow it continues,” Smith said, asserting that the heinous actions the occupation is committing in Gaza, where 80% of its population have been displaced, "are war crimes.”
Full resignation letter from FCDO British diplomat Mark Smith: pic.twitter.com/k9y7varCHC
— Hind Hassan (@HindHassanNews) August 16, 2024
Smith mentioned that he attempted to address his concerns while serving in the FCDO, including conducting “an official whistle-blowing investigation."
He also challenged the UK's claims of its "robust and transparent" arms export licensing system based on his expertise in armed sales policies, which were ultimately disregarded.
Smith also urged for the office to change its standing amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza so that "we can look back on history and be proud.”
UK suspends arms sale licenses to 'Israel' 'pending review'
UK civil servants have suspended proceedings of arms export licenses for sales to "Israel" awaiting a pending governmental review of the issue.
A fixed date for the completion of the review concerning UK arms sales to the occupation has not been set due to the increased complication of the review amid supposed allegations that this partnership violates international humanitarian law due to "Israel's" daily assault on Gaza. Ultimately, the ministers aim to distinguish weapons used for offensive and defensive purposes in the war on Gaza.
Government sources claim a fixed date is yet to be scheduled since the ministers are taking time to ensure legality and compliance with arms export licensing laws.
Back in June, the former Conservative government announced that 108 licenses had been granted for the occupation between October 7 and the end of May, however, the license values have not been revealed.
